On Tuesday night, Scunthorpe United just about advanced through to the second round of the Carabao Cup, as they defeated Notts County 6-5 on penalties

Iron goalkeeper Matt Gilks produced the match-winning spot-kick save from Matt Tootle, after a thrilling 3-3 result after extra-time.

Following a disappointing performance on Saturday against AFC Wimbledon, many fans felt that the formation was to blame for the Iron’s less than convincing performance.

Iron boss Graham Alexander decided to deploy a 3-4-3 formation, playing with three centre-backs, whilst Jordan Clarke and Conor Townsend offered the width in their new role further forward as wing-backs.

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Clarke and Townsend seemed to thrive and impressed in their new position, as the latter scored only his second Iron goal six minutes into the season as he broke down the left and was picked out by Josh Morris, before finding the top corner in sensational fashion.

However, besides the two wing-backs offering an attacking outlet, the Iron lacked enough creativity in the final third and were unable to cause Wimbledon too many problems, as the Dons scored a well-deserved equaliser.

After the Saturday’s result against Wimbledon, Alexander stated that the new-look formation was not to blame for the poor second-half performance.

For the most part, Alexander was right.

Against Wimbledon, the Iron made poor decisions in the final third, did not retain the ball well and were second best for the majority of the game against a team considered the majority to finish in the bottom half of the table.

The personnel always makes the formation what it is, and it should not be the excuse from sub-par individual performances and mistakes, which was the case on Saturday.

However, following Tuesday night’s second-half performance, it is clear to see that the Iron looked like a much better proposition and far more comfortable playing 4-4-2.

Alexander decided to stick with the 3-4-3 formation ahead of the Carabao Cup tie.

As he, and fans alike, watched his team produce a similarly poor performance in the first-half, Alexander decided that a change was needed.

Fair play to Alexander.

He admitted that he had made a mistake and reverted back to a more traditional formation – one that the Iron are used to.

The introduction of Hakeeb Adelakun and Duane Holmes meant that the Iron went back to four-man defence, with two wingers as mentioned and two strikers – who both looked more potent.

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The movement of the side going forward looked much more fluid as the Iron seemed to have much more options in the final third and found the creative spark that they had lacked playing 3-4-3.

It was familiar. Watching the second-half of Tuesday’s night game was reminiscent of last season’s side which was putting five goals past Gillingham, and four past Southend, Walsall and Swindon early on in the season.

It may not be the case that the formation does not work, but more to the fact that the Iron are much more comfortable playing in 4-4-2.

Whatever the case may be, it is likely that Alexander will now revert back to playing 4-4-2, as he tries to guide his team towards another promotion push, which will hopefully start with a win at Spotland Stadium, as the Iron take on Rochdale this Saturday.